Do Healthy Potential Kidney Donors in India Have an Average Glomerular Filtration Rate of 81.4 ml/min?

Abstract

Background: Until now, a normal reference range for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in adult Indian potential kidney donors has not been determined and values from a western population are being used as reference. Aim: To determine the reference range of GFR in healthy adult Indian potential kidney donors. Basic Procedures: GFR was measured in 610 (250 male, 360 female, average age 35.16 years) healthy potential kidney donors using the ^99mTc-DTPA (diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid) two-plasma sample method of Russell. Results: The mean body surface area (BSA)-normalized GFR value of a young healthy Indian adult potential kidney donor was calculated as 81.4 ± 19.4 ml/min/1.73 m² BSA – for males it was 82.3 ± 21.3 ml/min/1.73 m² BSA and for females 80.8 ± 18.1 ml/min/1.73 m² BSA. There was no significant difference between derived mean GFR values in males and females with a p value of 0.37. Conclusions: The normal GFR value for the healthy Indian adult potential kidney donor appears to be much lower than the accepted value for a western population. The mean GFR value of a young healthy Indian adult potential kidney donor is 81.4 ± 19.4 ml/min/1.73 m² BSA, which is significantly different from the normal value of 109–125 ml/min derived from a western population. These findings might be useful in deciding on a suitable kidney donor in an Indian context.